Shloka 10

Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)

Devanagari script

प्रपेदे छन्‍्दयन्‌ कामैरुपयाजं धृतव्रतम्‌ । पादशुश्रूषणे युक्त: प्रियवाक्‌ सर्वकामद:

Transliteration

prapede chandayann kāmair upayājaṃ dhṛtavratam | pādaśuśrūṣaṇe yuktaḥ priyavāk sarvakāmadāḥ ||

Translation

德鲁帕达王洞悉二位仙者的灵力与苦行威德，毫无懈怠地前往拜见守戒坚固的婆罗门优波耶阇，欲以称心的供奉取悦其心。他以柔和悦耳之辞许诺赐予一切所愿之物，俯身侍奉于圣者足下，依礼恭敬供养，希求得一法事，使其得一子，足以诛灭德罗那。

Word by Word

• प्रपेदे: approached / resorted to
• प्रपेदे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु)
• Form: LiT (परस्मैपद), Perfect, 3, singular

• छन्दयन्: pleasing / gratifying
• छन्दयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: छन्द् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), masculine, nominative, singular

• कामैः: with desired objects / pleasures
• कामैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• उपयाजम्: Upayāja (name of the sage)
• उपयाजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपयाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• धृतव्रतम्: one who has undertaken/maintained vows
• धृतव्रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पादशुश्रूषणे: in the service of (his) feet
• पादशुश्रूषणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादशुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• युक्तः: engaged / devoted
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• प्रियवाक्: speaking pleasing words
• प्रियवाक्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियवाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सर्वकामदः: granting all desires
• सर्वकामदः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वकामद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Upayāja
• Drupada (implied by context)
• Brahmin (speaker)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse illustrates how outwardly dharmic acts—humble service, pleasing speech, and generous gifts to a vow-keeping brahmin—can be ethically complicated when motivated by anger or vengeance. It invites reflection on intention (bhāva) behind religious patronage and the moral weight of seeking power through ritual.

What is happening in the narrative?

Drupada approaches the brahmin Upayāja, known for strict vows, and tries to persuade him with gifts and respectful service. He speaks sweetly and promises to fulfill desires, aiming to obtain a ritual solution for begetting a son who can defeat/kill Droṇa.